The origin of our species is now closer than ever to being found. Through continuing research of million-year-old fossils found in Africa, scientists are coming closer to just how our species began, Dr. Carol Ward of the University of Missouri-Columbia told a crowd of listeners Monday night in Watkins Auditorium.

Dr. Ward has been fortunate enough to study some of the most famous early fossils belived to be of hominids, the earliest human species. She has worked with colleagues on a 3.5 million-year-old fossilized skull found near Kenya's Lake Turkana and on possibly the most famous skeletal remains found that are believed to possibly be from a hominid, "Lucy."

"Lucy" has been the source of many scientists' theories as to where we came from. In the past, it was believed that there might be too many differences in these skeletal remains and our current makeups, our ability to walk upright.

Howere, the current work on the remains is starting to bring forth many intersting possibilities. The lastest research has given some scientists reason to believe that many theories of the past that fell short of saying that the fossilized subjects walked upright could be disproven.

The most recent results, though not yet published because they have to pass peer review, show that these fossilized animals could have had more closely related ribs, limb length, ankle-joint movement, and a more upright walk as compared to humans than previously believed.

These results have been exciting for Dr. Ward and the scientific community.

"These are the types of things that make my job exciting," Ward said.

Remains of other possible hominids have also recently been discovered. One site in Chad has produced remains from 6-7 million years ago that could be one of the earliest hominids.

These remains push the bounds of where scientists have previously believed that hominids could have begun.

"If those remains are from a hominid, it certainly pushes the bounds of where we think we split from chimps and bamboons. We're not sure yet if the remains are from a hominid because they have not yet been widely studied, but we'll know someday," said Ward.